Showcase construction



Oct. 10, 1967 A. G. DsAcK 3,346,310

SHOWCASE CONSTRUCTION Filed June 28, 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet l P716. 2.Z0 0 5?@ 56d 52d/ alza@ ARTHUR G. D/ACK BY H/s ATaQA/Eys fge/57 K/.ec/f, P0555 #Een UCL "im 1967 A. G. @mui 33459319 SHOWCASE CONSTRUCTION Filed June 28, 1965 5 Sheetsheet 5 United States Patent O 3,346,310 SHOWCASE CONSTRUCTION Arthur G. Diack, Inglewood, Calif. (1427 Santee St.,vLos Angeles, Calif. 90015) Filed June 28, 1965, Ser. No. 467,468 8 Claims. (Cl. 312-140) ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE A comer construction having a corner connector member with three prongs extending snugly into longitudinal sockets in post and rail members arranged to define a showcase corner. Screw mean-s lare also provided to engage the prongs to hold the corner assembled and aligned panel-receiving channels yare provided in the post and rails.

The present invention relates in general to showcases, or the like, and a primary object of the invention is to provide a showcase having a construction such that it can be manufactured, shipped, assembled and installed at but a fraction of the cost of conventional showcase manufacturing, assembling, shipping and installation procedures.

The better `showcases currently in use have expensive Welded frames, usually of stainless steel. The welded joints must be ground and polished, which is a costly operation because of the difficulty of handling something as cumbersome as a showcase frame. Subsequently, e-ach frame may be subjected to such additional operations as cleaning, plating, and the like, each such operation requiring a tank-large enough to permit the entire frame to be submerged.

After each frame has been completed, it must be glazed and then crated and shipped to its destination. Alternatively, it must be crated and shipped to its destination and then glazed. In either event, high cr-ating and shipping costs are incurred because of the bulk involved.

lFurther, the cost of glazing a conventional showcase of the foregoing nature is high because the stainless steel components of the frame cannot economically be formed with cross sectional configurations conducive to easy glazing. The glass panes or panels must be secured in place by molding strips or clips fastened to interior portions of the showcase-frame components by means of'screws. This necessitates a great deal of cutting, fitting, mitering, drilling, tapping and installing screws Iaround each panel. Furthermore, all of this work must be carried out from `cramped quarters within `the showcase.

The present invention materially reduces the foregoing high costs of manufacturing, assembling, shipping, glazing, and the like, by providing, and -a basic object of the invention is to provide, -a showcase frame which requires no welding and subsequent grinding, polishing, cleaning, plating, and the like, which can be shipped disassembled to reduce shipping costs drastically, and which is easily assembled vand glazed at its destination, preferably utilizing -gl-ass obtained locally to avoid high glass shipping costs. A related object is to provide a showc-ase frame which can be assembled and lglazed at its destination with but a few screws, or the like, these being easily installed from within the showcase.

An important object is to provide -a showcase frame construction of the foregoing nature which has a perfectly smooth exterior, all adjacent external surfaces being ush with each other, which has rounded corners at waist level, and which has no external screws, bolts, or the like. This smooth, tlush external construction, with no external screw or bolt heads, provides a pleasing appearance and is easy to clean. Furthermore, it is easy 3,346,310 Patented Oct. 10, 196757 to slide merchandise, coins, and the like, oi the top of the showcase. The rounded corners are important to prevent injury to customers and employees where such corners are Iat waist level, or thereabouts.

Another and extremely important object of the invention is to facilitate glazing of the showcase frame by providing it with frame members having longitudinal panelreceiving channels into which the corresponding edges of the glass panels may simply be shipped as the frame is assembled. With this construction, no fittingV and attachment of molding strips, clips, or the like, for securing the glass panels are required. Also, the tremendous labor cost of, and the unsightly appearance resulting from, the countless screws needed for attaching such separate glass securing elements, are avoided.

Still another important object is to provide frame members having the required longitudinal panel-receiving channels formed integrally therewith, so that each frame member is a single piece with no assembly of separate components required. In this connection, an important object is to utilize extrusions of appropriate cross sectional configurations for the various post and rail members of thev showcase frame, such extrusions preferably being formed of aluminum, anodized, enameled, or plated as desired.

Yet another important object of the invention is to provide a showcase frame wherein the various post and rail members have square-cut ends, as opposed to mitered ends, and to provide complementary connectors, for interconnecting such square-cut ends, which produce the desired smooth, flush external contour for the showcase frame. With this construction, the various post and rail members c-an be furnished in stock lengths 'and can be cut to the required lengths by the showcase manufacturer readily since only square cuts are required. This represents a further saving, particularly in anodizing or plating, handling and shipping, since fewer pieces must be processed.

Considering the invention more specically now, a b-asic object thereof is to provide la showcase-frame corner 4construction which includes: a post member and two rail members respectively having ends positioned in cornerforming relation and respectively having sockets and panel-receiving channels extending longitudinally thereof; a comer connector having three prongs respectively :aligned with and plugged into the sockets in the members and having three abutment surfaces respectively engaged by the ends of the members in abutting relation; and means securing the ends of the members to the prongs, respectively. A related object is to provide a corner construction of the foregoing nature which includes .a onepiece comer connector having the three prongs mentioned formed integrally therewith.

Another object of the invention is to provide a corner construction as hereinbefore outlined wherein the corner connectork and the post .and rail members may be assembled quickly and easily by means of as few as three screws extending laterally into the respective sockets and engaging the respective prongs, such screws being installed from within the showcase to avoid external screw heads, or the like.

Another object of the. invention is to provide the post and rail members and the corner connector with ush external surfaces so that the external contour of the showcase-frame corner construction is absolutely smooth.

Since, with the showcase-frame corner construction which is an important feature of the invention. Another object in this connection is to provide the corner connector with abutment surfaces for the ends of the post and rail members which are located on all sides of the prongs, thereby providing greater bearing Vor abutment areas between the corner connector and the ends of the post and rail members for additional strength and rigidity.

Anotherobject of the invention is to provide a showcase-frame construction which includes a base and base connectors secured to the lbase and having upstanding lugs plugged into the longitudinal sockets in the post members at the lower ends of the post members, thereby rigidly securing the post members tothe base.

The foregoing objects, advantages, features and results of the present invention, together with various other objects, advantages, features and results thereof which will be evident Yto those skilled in the showcase and analogous arts, may be achieved with the exemplary embodiments of the invention described in detail hereinafter and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Y FIG.V 1 is an isometric view of a vertical-front showcase embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is an end view of a slant-front showcase of the invention; Y

FIGS. 3 and 4 are enlarged sectional views respectively taken along the arrowed lines 3.-3 and 4--4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken as indi- Ycated by-the arrowed line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

Y trating the manner in which two showcases of the invention may be coupled together in end-to-end relation with the glass panels omitted from the abutting showcase ends;

FIG. is an isometric view of a corner connector of the invention;

FIG. ll is a view similar to FIG. 10, but illustrating the presently preferred corner connector of the invention;

FIG. Vl2 is an isometric view of a presently preferred base connector ofthe invention; Y

FIG. l3-is an isometric viewof another alternative corner connector of the invention; Y

FIG. V14 is an isometric view of an alternative base connector of the invention; and

FIG. 15 is an isometric view of yet another alternative YVcorner connector of the invention.

Referring initially to FIGS. l1 and 2 of Vthe drawings, respectively illustrated therein are vertical-front and slantfront showcases and 20a which embody the invention. The showcases 20 and 20a respectively include bases 22 and 22a to which are secured the lower ends of front posts or post members 24 and 24a and the lower ends of rear posts members 26 and 26a, the front posts 24 be- Y ing vertical and the front posts 24a sloping upwardly and rearwardly. The showcases 20 and 20a include front rails or rail members 28 and 28a, rear rails or rail members 30 and 30a, and side rails or rail members 32 and 32a.

vIn the showcase 20, each front 24 is connected to the front rail 28 and the corresponding side rail 32 by a front corner or corner construction 34 of the invention, andeach rear post 26 is connected to the rear rail 30 and the corresponding side rail 32 by a rear corner orV The two showcases 20 and 20a are identical except forV differences necessary to accommodate the slant front of the showcase 20a. More particularly, the connections of the front posts 24a to the base 22a are identical in principle and similar inconstruction to the connections of the front posts 24 to the base 22. The front corners 34a are identical in principle and similar in construction to the front corners 34. Consequently, only the verticalfront showase 20 will be described in detail hereinafter, it being understood that the description of the showcase 20 is equally applicable kto the slant-front showcase 20a.

. As best shown in FIG. 4 of the drawings, the base 22 is shown as mounted on a pedestal 38 which provides a front toe space 40. The edges of the base 22 are shown as projecting horizontally outwardly beyond the frame of the showcase 20 to provide a peripheral ledge. However,

this ledge can be omitted if desired by making theV edges e 24 and 26.

Mortised into the base 22l are L-shaped base connectors 42, FIGS. 5 and 12, having upstanding lugs 44 plugged into the lower ends of longitudinally extending, i.e., vertically extending, sockets 46 in the front and rear posts 24 and 26, the latter having square-cut lower ends seated against the upper surface of the base. The base connectors 42 are shown as secured'to the base 22 by screws 48 extending downwardly through the horizontal legs of the connectors into the base. Each base connector isV further secured by a screw 50 extending upwardly through the base 22 and threaded into a bore in the corresponding lug 44. Each of the posts 24 and 26 is secured to the corresponding lug 44 very simply by a screw 52, FIGS. 4 and 5. Each screw 52 extends diagonally from the'interior of the showcase 20 through the lower end of the corresponding post 24 or 26 into engagement with the corresponding base connectorV lug 44. Since, as hereinbefore indicated, all parts of the frame of the showcase 20 are made of aluminum, the screws 52 may be self-tapping screws threaded into holes drilled through the lower ends of the posts 24 and 26 into the Vcorresponding base-connector lugs 44. Thus, after the posts 24 and 26 have been pressed onto the base-connector lugs 44,.

they may be secured thereto very simply by drilling four holes and insertingV four self-tapping screws 52. It will be noted that the heads of the screws 52 are inside the showcase 20 to avoid interference with the desired smooth external contour for the showcase.

As best shown 'in FIG. 3 of the drawings, the front posts 24 have longitudinally extending, i.e., vertically ex. 1

tending, integral, panel-receiving channels 54 which face each other and which receive therein corresponding edges of a front glassrpanel 56 of the showcase 20. The lower edge of the front glassYV panel 56 is disposed in an upwardly-facing, channel-shaped front bottom rail 58, FIG. 4, secured to the base 22 by one or more screws 60. It will be noted that the front surface of the front bottom rail 58 is ilush with the front surfaces of the front posts 24. The top edge of the front glass' panel 56 is disposed in a downwardly-facing, longitudinally-extending, integral channel 62 forming part of the front top rail 28.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the edges of the front glass panel 56 are set in plastic channels 64 pressed into the corresponding channels 54, 58 and 62 of the frame of the showcase 20. Such plastic channels holdvthe front glass panel 56 rmly in place in a very simple manner which is conductive to easy installation since no glazing compounds, or'the like are required. This same treatmentAis accorded to all of the upright glass panels incorporated in the showcase 20 so that no further description will be required.

Side glass panels 66, FIG. 3, are set in longitudinallyextending, i.e., vertically-extending, channels 68 formedk integrally with the front and rear posts 24 and 26. The

lower edges of the side glass panels 66 are set in upwardly-facing channel-shaped, side bottom rails 70 flush with the external side surfaces of the posts 24 and 26 and screwed to the base 22. The upper edges of the side glass panels 66 are set in downwardly-facing, longitudinally-extending, integral channels in the top side rails 32, such channels not being specifically shown, but being substantially identical to the channel 62 in the top front rail 28.

As best shown in FIG. 3 of the drawings, the rear posts 26 are provided with vertically-extending, integral channels 74 in side-by-side relation, the channels 74 in one rear post facing the channels 74 in the other. Screwed, or otherwise secured, to the base 22 is a bottom rear rail 76 the ends of which are set in notches 78 in the rear posts 26 for positive alignment purposes. The bottom rear rail 76 is provided with horizontally-extending channels 80 in side-by-side relation, such channels being aligned with the respective channels 74 in the rear posts 26. The top rear rail 30 is similarly provided with longitudinallyextending, i.e horizontally-extending, integral channels 82 in side-byside relation, the channels 82 facing the respective channels 80 and being aligned with the respective channels 74 in the rear posts 26.

The channels 80 in the bottom rear rail 76 contain horizontally-extending tracks 84 for roller assemblies 86 carrying bypassing rear panels 88, preferably of glass, which extend upwardly into plastic guide channels 90'set in the downwardly-facing channels 82 in the top rear rail 30. When the bypassing rear panels 88 are in their closed positions, as shown in FIG. 3, they engage re silient bumpers 92 set in the vertically-extending channels 74 in the rear posts 2,6. Preferably, resilient bumpers 92 are located in all four of the channels 74 to serve as stops for the bypassing rear panels 88 irrespective of their directions of movement.

Referring to FIGS. 3 to 5 and 10 of the drawings, each of the front and rear corners 34 and 36 includes a corner connector 94 having a depending prong 96 plugged, with a press t, into the upper end of the corresponding socket 46 in the corresponding one of the front and rear posts 24 and 26. The corner connector 94 also includes horizontally-extending prongs 98 respectively plugged, with press fits, into the adjacent ends of longitudinally-extending sockets 100 respectively formed in the corresponding side rail 32 and the corresponding front or rear rail 28 or 30. As will be apparent, the respective sockets 46 and 100 parallel the channels in the corresponding posts and rails, being separated therefrom |by longitudinally extending, inwardly projecting flanges, as clearly shown in FIGS. 3 to 5.

Each corner connector 94 is provided with a horizontal abutment surface 102 having portions on all sides of the depending prong 96 and engageable in abutting relation by the square-cut upper end of the corresponding post 24 or 26. Similarly, each corner connector 94 is provided with vertical abutment surfaces 104 respectively located on all sides of the corresponding horizontally-extending prongs 98 and respectively engageable in abutting relation by the'adjacent square-cut ends of the corresponding ones of the rails 28, 30 'and 32. Such abutting relationships between the various abutment surfaces 102 and 104 and the corresponding square-cut post and rail ends result in only hair-line cracks at the junctions of the posts and rails with the corner connectors 94. Also, these abutting relationships contribute to the strength vand rigidity of the corners 34 and 36 achieved bythe press ts between the prongs 96 anad 98 in the sockets 46 and 100. The hair-line joints |between the corner connectors 94 and the various posts and rails provide a clean-cut appearance from the exterior of the showcase 20,

Theexternal surfaces of the corner connectors 94 are rounded Iand are tlush with complementary external sur- 4faces on the various posts and rails. This provides the 6 frame of the showcase 20 with a smooth exterior which is easy to clean and maintain, and the rounded, tlush surfaces of the posts, rails and corner connectors 94 minimize any possibility of injury to employees or customers, particularly if the corner connectors 94 are at approximately waist level.

In the particular construction illustrated in FIGS. 3 to 5 and 10, the horizontally-extending prongs 98 consitute a separate L-shaped part the apex of which is suitably secured within a notch 106 in the body of the corner connector 94, as by a screw, not shown, extending upwardly through the corner connector into engagement with the L-shaped part forming the prongs 98. To achieve additional rigidity with this construction the abutment surfaces 104 are provided with short lugs 108 pressed into the adjacent ends of the channels iu the corresponding rail members, as b'est shown in FIG. 5.

The depending prong 96 of each corner connector 94 is secured to the upper end of the corresponding post 24 or 26 by a self-tapping screw 110 threaded into holes drilled from the interior of the showcase 20 after `assembly. Asbest shown in FIG. 3, the screws 110 used to secure the front corner connectors 94 to the front posts 24 are oriented diagonally. The screws 110 for attaching the rear corner connectors 94 to the rear posts 26 are threaded into holes drilled inwardly from the rearmost channels 74 in the rear posts, the heads of these screws being covered by the corresponding resilient bumpers 92.

The horizontally extending prongs 98 of each corner connector 94 are secured to the corresponding rails by clamps 112 engageable with the undersides of the inwardly projecting flanges separating the sockets in the rails from the downwardly-facing channels therein. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the clamps 112 are secured by screws 114 threaded into the horizontally-extending prongs 98. The screws 114 are accessible from t-he corresponding downwardly-facing channels in the corresponding rails.

Thus, it will -be apparent that each corner connector 94 is secured to the corresponding post and rails very simply by means of a small number of screws to provide a sturdy and rigid interconnection between the corresponding post and rails, which Iare important features of the invention. The square-cut ends of the post and rails firmly engage the corresponding abutment surfaces 102 and 104 on each corner connector 94 to provide additional rigidity and to leaveV nothing more than hair-line cracks between the corner connector and the post and rails. The rounded, flush external surfaces of each corner connector 94 and the corresponding post and rails provide a smooth external contour having a pleasing appearance and minimizing the possibility of injury to employees or customers. It will be further noted that all of the screws utilized in assembling the various components of the frame of the showcase 20 are installed from the interior of the showcase so that there are no external screw heads, or the like, to mar the smooth exterior configuration achieved fby the invention.

The top front, rear and side rails 28, 30 land 32 areV provided with ledges 116 for a top glass panel 118 of a thickness such that its top surface is flush with the top surfaces of the rails mentioned, as shown in FIG. 4 of the drawings. In actual practice, the top glass panel 118 may project slightly above the top surfaces of the rails 28, 30 and 32, the object being to permit coins, merchandise, and other articles, to slide freely olf the top o-f the showcase 20. In no event should the top surface of the top glass panel 118 be below the top surfaces of the rails 28, 30 and 32.

Referring to FIG. 11 of the drawings, illustrated therein is a presently preferred corner connector 94a of the invention. The corner connector 94a is identical in principle to the corner connector 94 and includes a depending prong 96a, horizontally extending prongs 98a, a horizontal abutment 10211 on all sides of the depending prong, and verti cal abutment surfaces 104e prongs. The only dilerence between the corner connector 94a and the corner connector 94 is that the horizontal prongs'V 98e are also integral, the entire corner connector 94a being of one-piece construction. The result of this construction is that the corner connector 94a provides an even more sturdy and rigid interconnection between the corresponding post and rails than does the corner connector 94. Y

VThe corner connector 94a is also shown as having suitably attached thereto, or formed integrally therewith, lugs10Sa corresponding to the lugs 108 and adapted to be pressed into the adjacent ends of the corresponding downwardly-facing channels inthe corresponding ones of the rails 28, 30 and 32. `Projecting from and integral with the lugs 108e are clamps 112e paralleling the prongs 98a and corresponding to the clamps l112 of the corner connector 94 and'adapted to be secured by screws, not shown, corresponding to the screws 114. Obviously at least the outer end portions ofthe clamps 112e are sufliciently bendable to function in the same manner as the separate members 112 of FIG. 10. The addition of the lugs 108e and; integral clamps 112a results in an even sturdier and .more rigid construction.

Turning now to FIG. 6 of the drawings, illustrated 'therein is an alternative for the upper left cornerV of FIG. 4. More particularly, FIG. 6 shows a top rear rail 30h which is similar to the top rear rail 30 and which has a socket 100b for a horizontally extending prong 9817 corresponding to one Vof the horizontally extending prongsV on all sides of the-horizontal 98 of the corner connector 94 (or to one of the horizontally extending prongs 98a of the corner connector 94a). The rail 30h is secured to the prong 98h by one or more screws -114b threadedA into the prong 98b and having their heads seated on the inwardly projecting flangesV separating the socket 100b from an adjacent downwardly-facing v channel 82b corresponding to one of the channels 82 in sult is much bettervisibility of the contents of the show- Y case. The treatment shown in FIG. 6 may, of course, be carried out around the entire top portion of the showcase frame.

Referring to FIG. 7, which is similar to the upper right corner of'FIG. 4, illustrated therein is a top front rail 28e 1 corresponding to the top front rail 28 and provided with 4a longitudinally-extending socket 100e containing' a horizontally-extending corner-connector prong 98e corre- :sponding to one of the prongs 98 of the corner connector 94 (or one of the prongs 98a of the corner connector 94a). The top front rail 28e` is secured to the prong 98e `lby a diagonally-oriented self-tapping screw 114C extending through the top front rail 28e into the prong 98C. This lconstruction, which may also be carried out around the yentire top portion of the showcase frame, has the sameV :advantages as the construction of FIG. 6, and has the :additional advantage that the screw 114e can be installed more easily than the screw 114k.

Referring now to FIG. 8 of the drawings, illustrated therein is a showcase-frame construction which is similar to Vthat shown in FIG.v 7, but which utilizes a top front rail 28d made of two sheet metal pieces 30d and 32d, instead of a single extrusion. The two pieces 30d and 32d may be formed of stainless steel, for example, and may Vbe suitably welded together'.V It will be noted that the cross sectionalconguration of the top front rail 28d is essentially the same as that of the top front rail 28C. One or more screws 1-14d secure the top front rail 23d to a hori-' zontally-extending corner-connector prong 98d disposedV Y in a socket 100d in the top front rail 28d. The construction of FIG. 8 may be extended throughout the entire showcase frame and may be used wherever a material such as stainless steel is desired. It will be understood that, with this construction, base and corner connectors similar to the base and corner connectors 42 and 94 may be used. v Y

FIG. 9 of the drawings illustrates how two of the showcases 20 may be secured together end-to-end in abutting relation with the corresponding side glass panels 66 omitted, the bases 22 being flush with the showcase frames at the ends of the two showcases to permit both the bases and the frames to abut. The two showcases are locked together by a member 120 having two flanges 122 inserted into notches 124 in filler strips 126 disposed in the channels 68 in the front posts 24 which normally receive the front edges of the side lglass panels 66. -The corre'- sponding rear posts 26 and the corresponding side rails 32 may be locked together in a similar manner so as to firmly secure the two showcases 20 together in the desired end-to-end, abutting relation. Y

FIGS. 13 to 15 illustrate a somewhatdilferent showcase frame construction, viz, one utilizing vertical bolts or tie rods to secure theV upperV corners to the base. More particularly, FIG. Y13 illustrates Va corner connector 94e front and rear posts 24 and 26, and is provided at its lower end with a suitable head, not shown, which mayY be seated against the lower surface of the base 22, for example. Alternatively, the tie rod 99e may have a nut, not shown, threaded on its lower end and seated against the lower surface of the base. It will be apparent thatV with this construction, the tie rod serves to pull the corner connector 94e rmly down against the upperrend of the post 24 or 26.

FIG. 14 shows an A L-shaped 'base connector 101e adapted to be mortised into the upper surface of the base 22, for example, and adapted to have the tie rod 99e ex-V Y tend downwardly therethrough. The tie rod 99e is shown in FIG. 14 as threaded at its lower end to receive a nut,V

Vnot shown, seated against the lower surface of the Vbase.V Y 22. It will be understood that thestructu'resV of FIGS.

13 and 14 may be `used together at each corner of the showcase.

FIG. 15 Villustrates an alternative upper corner construction which comprises an Lshaped corner connector 94j providing two horizontally-extending prongs 98j corresponding to the prongs 98 of the corner connector 94.`

The comer connector 94jc is adapted to be held down by a tie rod 99f in the same manner as the cornerV connector Y 94e. The corner connector 94jc is adapted to be used with rails 1031 corresponding generally, for example, tothe front rail 28 and one of the side rails 32. In this instance, however, the rails 103]c have mitered ends abutting las indicated at 105i. This construction provides a sharp corner which is not objectionable so long as it is located above head height. j

As will be apparent from the foregoing description, Y

the present invention materially reduces manufacturing, assembling, shipping and glazing costs by providing a showcase frame which requiresno welding and subsequent grinding, polishing, cleaning, plating, and the like, whichV Y can be shipped disassembled (or various components of which can be shipped in stock lengths and cut-to size at the destination), and which isV easily assembled and tained locally. The invention further provides 4a showcase frame which can be assembled and glazed at its destination with but a few screws, or the like. The invention still further provides a showcase frame which has a perfectly smooth exterior, all adjacent external surfaces being ilush with each other, which has rounded corners at waist level, and which has no external screws, or the like. This smooth, tlush external construction, with no external screw heads, provides a pleasing appearance and is easy to clean. Furthermore, in most of the embodiments disclosed, the various posts and rails require only simple, square-cut ends, such square-cut ends producing only hair-line joints at their abutments with other` components.

Various approaches may be used in glazing the showcase 20. One approach is to install the base connectors 42 and the bottom rails 58, 70 and 76 on the base 22 and then install the front and rear posts 24 and 26 and the front and side glass panels 56 and 66. Thereafter, the preassembled top rails 28, 30 and 32 and corner connectors 94 are installed. An alternative approach is to reverse the foregoing procedure by preassembling the top` rails 28, 30 and 32 and corner connectors 94 upside down, and then installing the posts 24 and 26 and the glass panels 56 and 66. The base 22, with the base connectors 42 and bottom rails 58, 70 and 76 mounted thereon, is installed last, with the showcase still upside down. With either approach, the top glass panel 118 and the bypassing rear panels 88 are installed last, there being enough clearance in the upper channels for the bypassing glass panels to permit installing them after the showcase frame has been completely assembled and locked up.

Although exemplary embodiments of the invention have been disclosed herein for purposes of illustration, it will be understood that various changes, modifications and substitutions may be incorporated in such embodiments without departing from the spirit of the invention as dened by the claims which follow.

I claim:

1. A showcase-frame corner construction, including:

(a) a post member and two rail members respectively having square-cut ends positioned in corner-forming relation;

(b) said post member and said rail members respectively having longitudinal sockets therein Which extend to said square-cut ends thereof;

(c) said post member and one of said rail members respectively having therein longitudinally-extending panel-receiving channels in a common plane;

(d) said post member and the other of said rail members respectively having therein longitudinallyextending panel-receiving channels in a common plane;

(e) a corner connector having three prongs respectively aligned with and plunged into said sockets in said post and rail members and having three abutment surfaces respectively parallel to and engaged by said square-cut ends of said members in abutting relation; l

(f) said prongs having snug sliding tits in said sockets;

and

(g) means comprising screws respectively extending laterally into said sockets and into engagement with said prongs, and bearing against said members, for securing -said ends of said members to said prongs, respectively, whereby said snug :fitting prongs and said screws constitute multiple securing means holding said post and rail members in assembled relation.

2. A corner construction as dened in claim 1 wherein at least some of said screws extend from within one of said panel-receiving channels into a said socket.

3. A corner construction as dened in claim 1 wherein at least some of said screws extend obliquely between adjacent panel-receiving channels into a socket.

4. A corner construction as defined in claim 1 including a longitudinal slot through ythe base lof at least one of said panel-receiving channels into an adjacent socket.

5. A corner construction as defined in claim 4 wherein at least some of said screws extend from within said one channel, through said slot into said adjacent socket.

6. A corner construction as defined in claim 5 including a clamping member in said one channel, said screws also extending through said clamping member to clamp the same against the bottom of said one channel.

7. A corner construction as defined in claim 1 including a base member having an upstanding lug secured thereto, said lug having a snug sliding fit in the socket of said post member at the lower end thereof.

8. A corner construction as defined in claim 1 wherein the outer exposed surfaces of said post and 4rail members and said corner connector merge with each other in flush relation at said abutment surfaces to define a smooth continuous outer surface throughout said corner construction.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 158,823 1/ 1875 Anderson 312-140 692,670 2/ 1902 Johnson 312-140 1,870,534 8/ 1932 Skoogh 312--140 2,371,493 3/ 1945 Aschinger 312-140 X 2,765,886 10/1956 Tedaldi et al. 312-140 X 2,904,360 9/ 1959 Gamlen 312-140 X 3,008,741 11/1961 MacCormack 312-140 X DAVID J. WILLIAMOWSKY, Primary Examiner. MARVIN A. CHAMPION, Examiner. J. L. KOHNEN, I. H. MCGLYNN, Assistant Examnels.

UNITED STATES PATENT oEEIcE CERTIFICATE OE CORRECTION Patent No. 3,346,310 October l0, 1967 Arthur G. Diack It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 2, line 9, for "shipped" read slipped column 3, line 59, after "posts", first occurrence, insert or post line 64, after "front" insert post column 4, llne 68, for "conductive" read conducive column 6, line 75, before "lOZa" insert surface Signed and sealed this 29th day of October 1968.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD J. BRENNER Commissioner of Patents Edward M. Fletcher, Jr.

Attesting Officer 

1. A SHOWCASE-FRAME CORNER CONSTRUCTION, INCLUDING: (A) A POST MEMBER AND TWO RAIL MEMBERS RESPECTIVELY HAVING SQUARE-CUT ENDS POSITIONED IN CORNER-FORMING RELATION; (B) SAID POST MEMBER AND SAID RAIL MEMBERS RESPECTIVELY HAVING LONGITUDINAL SHOCKETS THEREIN WHICH EXTEND TO SAID SQUARE-CUT ENDS THEREOF; (C) SAID POST MEMBER AND ONE OF SAID RAIL MEMBERS RESPECTIVELY HAVING THEREIN LONGITUDINALLY-EXTENDING PANEL-RECEIVING CHANNELS IN A COMMON PLANE; (D) SAID POST MEMBER AND THE OTHER OF SAID RAIL MEMBERS RESPECTIVELY HAVING THEREIN LONGITUDINALLYEXTENDING PANEL-RECEIVING CHANNELS IN A COMMON PLANE; (E) A CORNER CONNECTOR HAVING THREE PRONGS RESPECTIVELY ALIGNED WITH AND PLUNGED INTO SAID SOCKETS IN SAID POST AND RAIL MEMBERS AND HAVING THREE ABUTMENT SURFACES RESPECTIVELY PARALLEL TO AND ENGAGED BY SAID SQUARE-CUT ENDS OF SAID MEMBERS IN ABUTTING RELATION; (F) SAID PRONGS HAVING SNUG SLIDING FITS IN SAID SOCKETS; AND (G) MEANS COMPRISING SCREWS RESPECTIVELY EXTENDING LATERALLY INTO SAID SOCKETS AND INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID PRONGS, AND BEARING AGAINST SAID MEMBERS, FOR SECURING SAID ENDS OF SAID MEMBERS TO SAID PRONGS, RESPECTIVELY, WHEREBY SAID SNUG FITTING PRONGS AND SAID SCREWS CONSTITUTE MULTIPLE SECURING MEANS HOLDING SAID POST AND RAIL MEMBERS IN ASSEMBLED RELATION. 